A Destructive Fire in Mobile.

MOBILE, February 6. – A fire this morning at 4 o’clock destroyed the wholesale drug house of M. T. Sprague & Co., No. 14 North Water street. The building and stock were a total loss. The loss on the building is $8000, insured for $5000; and on stock $20,000, insured for $12,000. The adjoining buildings were slightly damaged. H. Barnstein & Co’s stock of boots and shoes was damaged considerably by water and insured by $7500. During the progress of the fire the rear wall of the Sprague building fell upon the two-story brick next east and broke in the roof and walls which fell upon a number of men engaged in removing the stock of liquor therefrom (sic) belonging to JAMES MCDONNELL. The heavy barrels and the mass of brick which fell covered McDonnell and killed him instantly. McDonnell was the head of the firm of wholesale grocers of that name, doing a large business for a number of years on Commerce street. Frank McLarney, member of the same firm, was seriously but not fatally injured. It may be that others are under the mass of brick. Search is being made.

Columbus Enquirer-Sun, Columbus, GA 8 Feb 1887
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Transcribed by Jenni Lanham. Thank you, Jenni!